Other Feb 8th 2016 Fiscal Court News: Traffic Light At Riverhill, Parks & Rec Mowing, More

Darren Doyle, story and photo
Edmonson County Fiscal Court discussed many different topics at the recent meeting, ranging anywhere from constables to gas plants, but several other items of interest were on the agenda as well. 

Riverhill Traffic Light
Judge Executive Wil Cannon updated the court that research continued on whether or not a traffic light was necessary at the junction of KY HWY 259 and KY HWY 70, at Riverhill since the new Dollar General was constructed. 

Many county residents feel there is a need for a traffic light at the location, but others think that some Dollar Store customers don't understand the situation properly, making it a parking lot issue, not a state road issue. We'll have more on this as details become available.

Judge Executive Wil Cannon speaks to magistrates in fiscal court meeting on Feb 8, 2016.

Sheriff's Report
Sheriff Shane Doyle reported several crime related stories that we've already covered in past updates over the last two weeks, including the meth lab bust at Rocky Hill.  He also said that Deputy Jordan Jones was set to graduate from the Department of Criminal Justice Training in Richmond, KY on February 19th. Jones, an Army veteran who served in Afghanistan, will become the sixth active certified officer within the current administration.

He also noted that his county vehicle was broken down again and was currently in the repair shop. He said his office has had to shuffle vehicles around to make things work, which had been difficult.

Parks & Rec
Program Director Greg Hudson gave several updates on P&R happenings and future plans. He said construction of a stage was being discussed for the first concert series to take place this coming year. He said he hoped it would also have the capability of showing movies in addition to concert usage. He also requested use of Chalybeate Park for a fundraising event requested by the parents of a young girl from Bowling Green who has Type C Lymphoma. The court approved the usage of the park, pending proper insurance documentation from the family.

New Mowers vs. Hiring Mowing Contractor For Parks & Rec
Judge Wil Cannon asked magistrates to consider possibilities of purchasing two new commercial mowers for Parks & Rec instead of paying $15,000 per year for a contractor to mow Chalybeate Park. At 17 acres, it's the largest of the three county parks. Cannon said the county could use the labor provided by prisoners under the supervision of qualified personnel for a large savings.

Director Hudson said another advantage would be that the county could mow the grounds at a schedule that would better fit the park, not a contractor. Hudson also noted that the current contractor did a good job, but doing away with a third party could benefit the county. The court decided to do more research on mower pricing while making other comparisons.

Delinquent Room and Rec Taxes
Tourism Director Rhonda Clemmons updated the court that past due Recreational Taxes owed by Blue Holler ATV Park had been paid in the amount of $1600 for the 3rd quarter. She also noted the park still owed $900 for January.

She said a payment agreement was still being worked out with Park Mammoth Resort and that they were cooperating. She also said a new off-road park was coming to Edmonson County, near the Warren Co line, on William Simmons Road, in the lower Wingfield community. She said the new owner had contacted her to set up proper tax procedures so that the new park would be compliant with county policy. 

County Attorney J.B. Hines reported that Edmonson County had moved up once again in state rankings of child support collection. He said collection of child support was just one of the many things his office continued to improve.

The court also agreed to:

• ​Approve maintenance agreement with Knights Technologies
• Approve letter of support of Nashville/Southern KY veterans organization to be mailed to U.S. Dept of Veterans Affairs to help secure funding and further support for fighting veteran homelessness
• Approve County Clerk Dec '15 delinquent tax collection, pending final audit
• Approve County Clerk Dec '15 MVAV, pending final audit
• Approve County Clerk Dec '15 Transfer Tax, pending final audit

The next fiscal court meeting is scheduled to be held on Monday, February 22, 2016 at 9am in the upstairs courtroom at the county courthouse.